The CatholiCity Message
Volume IX, Number 6 – April 26, 2005
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
We have posted several new "papal" articles which can only be found on CatholiCity:
"New Shoes for Joltin' Joe" is just plain fun if you're interested in Pope Benedict. "The Jesus System" provides a faith-filled, historical perspective on the election of popes. "Pockets of Silence" shatters what we call the Myth of the Liberal Pope. And just today, we posted the sobering "Saint Malachi Predicts the Election of Pope Benedict XVI."
Help yourselves on the CatholiCity homepage now:
1. RED-LETTERS ON OUR CALENDARS
The judicially-forced killing of Terri Shiavo, the passion and death of Pope John Paul II, and the elevation of Pope Benedict XVI have made the past several weeks a roller coaster ride. Lent and Easter 2005 will always remain spikes on the emotional cardiograms of our souls, won't they?
We venture there may never be a time in our lives when the rat-tat-tat of current events simultaneously brought into such stark relief the extraordinary changes which have taken place in the world since the election of a previous pope.
Since 1978, the Cold War ended and the War on Terror began (with completed Gulf War wedged between!). Two starkly different presidents, Reagan and Clinton, served for eight years each, followed by the most dramatic and contested presidential election ever in 2000.
This time around, in contrast to the elections of Popes John Paul I and John Paul II, most of us received most of our news through different media: the Internet, and cable or satellite television, talk radio that didn't exist in 1980s, and even through our cell phones.
Here at CatholiCity, we've done our best to avoid being intrusive. All 60,000 of us prayed for Terri. We prayed for John Paul II. And we prayed for his successor, Benedict.
2. BEST NICKNAMES FOR POPE BENEDICT
PapaRatzi
The German Shepherd
3. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME...
When was the last time you heard the Mary Foundation recordings "The Conversion of Scott Hahn" or "John Corapi's Amazing Story" or the classic "The Mass Explained"? Or our other life-changing titles. Has it been a while? Or never? Help yourself to free copies:
http://www.catholicity.com/maryfoundation/
POPE BENEDICT QUOTE
"At this point, my mind goes back to 22 October 1978, when Pope John Paul II began his ministry here in Saint Peter's Square. His words on that occasion constantly echo in my ears: "Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!" The Pope was addressing the mighty, the powerful of this world, who feared that Christ might take away something of their power if they were to let him in, if they were to allow the faith to be free. Yes, he would certainly have taken something away from them: the dominion of corruption, the manipulation of law and the freedom to do as they pleased. But he would not have taken away anything that pertains to human freedom or dignity, or to the building of a just society. The Pope was also speaking to everyone, especially the young. Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful?"
Homily, 24 April 2005
Let us end with a prayer of contrition for the times we have not lived up to Christ's call to true freedom…in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…
"O my God, I am heartfully sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishment, but most of all because I have offended Thee my God, Who is all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin, Amen."
Until next time, we remain...
Your Friends at CatholiCity
